Gabra6100Q allele Sprague-Dawley rats have a higher sensitivity to hypnosis induced by isoflurane and ethanol than the wild type rats.

Background: The neurobiological mechanisms underlying how general anesthetics render a patient's unconsciousness (hypnosis) remains elusive. The role of the cerebellum in hypnosis induced by general anesthetics is unknown. Gabra6 allele Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats have a naturally occurring single nucleotide polymorphism in the GABA receptor α6 subunit gene that is expressed exclusively in cerebellum granule cells.